Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-10-20
A CHICAGO SENSATION.
Banker Rawson Shot by His Stepson
While Leaving Church.

CHICAGO, Oct 17.--All the scandal that
has set the town agog over the divorce
suit of Rawson VS.. kawson is again drag
ged TO the front by the shooting Sunday
Of the famous banker by his stepson,
William Ralph Lee The people who sat
in front and behind Mr. Stephen w. Raw
son in tho Third Presbyterian church at
the corner of Ogden and Ashland aven.
ues arose with him at the pronunciation
Of the devout beneckction, and with him
stepped out into the sunshine of the front
entrance, There their senses and breath
were driven from them at the sight OF a
slip of young man who quickly stepped
behind the banker and opened fire upon
him with revolver The first crack of
the weapon was the bankers warning,
but the bullet caught and he staggered TO
the curbing, followed by the youth. who
never paused an instant in his work with
the revolver. which he clutched with both
hands, Juggling at the trigger. The
second shot came at the curbing, then
Mr.. Rawson staggered half way to tho
car tracks along Ogden avenue aud fell
forward upon his elbows, The women
had begun screaming by this time, but
before anyone could interfere the assassin
stood within six feet Of his PROSTATE vic
tim and fired thgee more shots directly at
his body. Then there was n pause, for the
double-acting pistol was empty. One man
rushed upon the murderous youngster
from behind and josted him into the arms
of another running from the opposite d..
reclion. and the weapon was knocked
from his hand. Three or four hundred
members Of the church had seen one of
Its most prominent members shot down
before their eyes in the most cold blood
ed manner, and for the moment their
excitement got the better Of their piety.
There were axcited calls Of Hang him."
XIII him." but Officer Jack Hartnelt
was close at hand and had the prisoner
in charge in second. That was enough
for those on the edge Of tho crowd, who
saw the assassin rushed of to the station.
He went without trouble and with no
word Of any kind, either to his captor
or the crowd. which pushed about him
and filed his ears with fervid but no less
hearty condemnation OF his coward y
conduct.
Lee is a slim, na.tily-built youth about
liye feet two inches In height and be-
tween sixteen and seventeen years of age.
lie was handsomely clad In dark cut
away suit Of fine material and patent
leather shoes. He Is very short sighted
and blinks continuously when he removes
his spectacles, His bearing was cool and
collected to u surprising degree. taking
into consideration the tragic scene just
concluded at the church door.
Lees right name is William II, Stay.
maker, although he Is known rs William
Il. Lee. He is the son of Mrs, Rawson by
her first husband Slaymaker, and upon
upon his mothers marriage to Lee, which
Rawson claims was Illegal because her
divorce from Slaymaker was not regular.
ly obtained, he assumed the name OF Lee.
CHICAGO, Oct a. Banker Rawson who
was shot by his stepsun yesterday morn
ing is in the same condition this morning.
The attending physicians have little hope
that he will pull through, owing to his
advanced age and physical weakness,
arising from the great loss Of blood. Any
prognosis Is attended with speculation.
This evening the attending physicians
report the condition Of the banker Raw
son more hopeful but cannot ns yet cx.
press an opinion as to what the result
will be. Young Lee still declines TO dis.
cuss the matter, and claims the sole re.
sponsbilty for the deed, Notwithstanding
it is generally believed he was instigated
TO he crime,